A MAN from Sealand who posted anti-Muslim Facebook rants following the Westminster terror attack last year has been branded an “armchair bigot” by a judge.

Judge Timothy Petts imposed a 12 months suspended jail term on Sean Maguire and ordered him to do 250 hours unpaid work and a 20 days rehabilitation activity. He also has to pay £300 costs.

Previously the judge told Maguire, 49, at Caernarfon Crown Court: "The language you used was horrific and disgusting.”

Maguire, a jobless forklift truck driver from North Street, was convicted by a jury last month of two offences of publishing material intending to stir up religious hatred.

Barrister David Potter, prosecuting, said on the day of the terror attacks on Westminster Bridge and Parliament last March, Maguire wrote on Facebook: "Time to start fighting back. Kill all Muslims.’’

Maguire said his Facebook posts were all linked to terror attacks.

“It was just for my benefit. It made me feel good at the time,” he told the jury.

“I wasn’t bothered if people agreed or disagreed with it.”

The prosecution said Maguire had 661 Facebook “friends” and he had published posts which could be seen freely.

There were other Facebook posts not subject to charges which had referred to Muslims in derogatory terms.

Defence lawyer Robin Boag said Maguire, primary carer for his mother of 79, no longer showed a desire to put forward such views.

Judge Petts said Maguire had equated the actions of terrorists with those of Muslims generally.

The judge added: "The law permits criticism, but not stirring up hatred.

"Freedom of speech isn’t a licence to use hate speech.”